Two more charged in Middleton road rage case

Friday

Feb 1, 2013 at 3:15 AMFeb 1, 2013 at 1:50 PM

By Samantha Allensallen@fosters.com

MIDDLETON — Two additional arrests have been made by the Middleton Police Department in a road rage case from earlier this month that was allegedly sparked by a Dover man who wanted to kill his ex-girlfriend's new beau, officials say.

Justin Barnes, 22, of 504 Main St., Farmington, and James Hartford, 17, of 107 Route 11, Farmington, have been arrested and each charged with one count conspiracy to commit criminal threatening, a Class B felony, for a bizarre incident reported on Jan. 17.

Joshua Hussey, 21, of 22 Winter St., Dover, was the first to be arrested in this case, for allegedly driving his Pontiac G6 while Hartford and Barnes rode along and terrorized two Farmington men who were in another vehicle on the evening of Jan. 17. A high-speed chase ensued between the two vehicles through Middleton and Farmington and ended when the two victims stopped at the Farmington police station to ask for help.

Hussey was charged on Jan. 23 for reckless conduct and criminal liability for conduct toward another. Barnes has also been charged by the Farmington Police Department for allegedly showing a folding knife to another person on Dec. 12 for a separate incident at 351 Main St. in that town. He was charged by Farmington police for criminal threatening/use of a deadly weapon in that case and was also arraigned on that matter at Rochester court Thursday.

Around 8:30 p.m. on the night of the Jan. 17 incident, police were dispatched the area of Sunrise Lake on Route 153 for reports that one vehicle with two Farmington men was being chased by the three suspects in their Pontiac vehicle. Dispatchers also called the cell phone of one of the victims who told them they were in the process of being chased and were near Middleton Town Hall.

Victims later told police Hussey's vehicle was pulling in front of them and locked up brakes to allegedly crash into their vehicle, and someone in the vehicle was using a long stick with a knife attached to the end to break their car's windows. They said Barnes and Hussey both allegedly yelled at them during the chase, “I am going to kill you.”

When Barnes was arrested, he allegedly told investigators Hussey's vehicle was traveling at speeds up 100 mph.

According to the affidavit, the wife of one of the alleged victims initially called police that night to notify them of the incident, stating Hussey was also trying to run her husband off the road and someone in Hussey's vehicle had a baseball bat. Police said they were informed Hussey was trying to smash the two victims' vehicle with the bat but the chase ended when they stopped at the Farmington police station.

The victims said an argument between them and the suspects began at the Farmington Cumberland Farms and Hussey tried to block them in with his vehicle. An unidentified person who called Middleton police with more information regarding the incident said Barnes was introduced to Hussey through an acquaintance because Hussey was allegedly looking for someone to hurt one of the two Farmington victims for dating his ex-girlfriend. The cooperating individual, according to a police affidavit, said Hussey wanted that person killed or “hurt real bad.”

Callers told Middleton police on the night of Jan. 17 the pursuit between the two cars went from Route 153 to Ridge Road, then New Durham Road and then to Silver Street. Police say those roads have no break down lanes and are curvy.

The affidavit said the informant also told police he was present when Hartford allegedly thanked Hussey for not telling authorities he was involved. Hussey reportedly told officials upon his arrest there was a passenger with a knife and stick contraption whom he did not recognize. The information said Hartford allegedly told Hussey, “Thanks for not being a snitch.”

Following their arraignments in Rochester Circuit Court, Hussey was released on $5,000 personal recognizance bail while both Barnes and Hartford were ordered held on $5,000 cash bail to convert to personal recognizance bail if accepted by the Strafford County Community Corrections program.

At their individual arraignments on Thursday, Barnes' and Hartford's bail conditions mandate they wear GPS tracking devices, sign a waiver of extradition and refrain from using illicit drugs or possessing firearms, weapons or ammunition. Barnes has been ordered to refrain from having excessive alcohol and Hartford has been ordered to have no alcohol. They have also each been ordered to not have contact with several people, including the alleged victims and suspects in this case, and have also been ordered to seek mental health referrals.

All of the charges listed are classified as Class B felonies.

Probable cause hearings for Barnes and Hartford have been set for Feb. 8. in Rochester Circuit Court.

Middleton Police Sgt. Tim Brown told Foster's previous reports that chainsaws were also used in this incident have not been confirmed and that matter is still under investigation. Brown noted additional charges may be forthcoming against the three suspects.